A disabled pensioner launched into a five-minute tirade against a cold caller
asking her about voting intention - only to be told she was talking to Nick
Clegg

Not realising who was on the other end of the line Trish Mill, 68, complained that she had no parking space outside her home and refused to support anyone in the ballot box who would not support her in her row with her local council.

It was only after several minutes of her ranting that the caller sheepishly admitted: "This is Nick Clegg speaking - the Deputy Prime Minister.”

The Lib Dem leader assured the mother-of-five that he would help her, but despite his party winning the local elections she is still waiting.

Mr Clegg made a number of phone calls to constituents to ahead of May's local elections.

The retired market researcher, of St Austell, was at home watching TV when the phone rang.

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"The voice at the other end of the line explained he was calling about the council elections which immediately made me hostile,” she said.

"He asked who I was going to vote for and I replied in no uncertain terms that I would only vote for someone who sorted out my parking space.”

She spent the next five minutes telling him how “fed up” she was, before he revealed his identity.

"I was completely lost for words,” she said. “He was very calm and polite and I fully expected him to follow it up because of his position in the Government."

Mrs Mill has been told she will have to pay £3,300 or wait years for a disabled parking space because of an expensive planning process.

Mr Clegg passed on her complaint to her local MP who has since raised the case.

Stephen Gilbert, MP for St Austell, said Mr Clegg probably got the number from the electoral roll or from data supplied to political parties for canvassing purposes.

Her said: "While MPs don't have any direct influence over the council, I've been happy to raise her case and help put the pressure on and will continue to work with her and the council to find a solution."

A council spokesman added: "In order to give permission for a disabled parking bay to be created, Cornwall Council, like all local authorities, has to make a Traffic Regulation Order.

"This is a legal process which requires public consultation - the typical costs for which is around £3,300."